Joe Gelhardt says the Championship can be tougher than Premier League football - and he is looking forward to another crack at the second tier with Sunderland. Striker Gelhardt joined the Black Cats on loan from Leeds United towards the end of the January transfer window, and the 20-year-old made his debut for the club in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Millwall.
Gelhardt cut his teeth in the Championship as a 16-year-old with Wigan Athetic before joining Leeds in the summer of 2020, and has gone on to make 35 appearances in the top flight for the Yorkshire side. And, having experienced both leagues, Gelhardt says the Championship is the harder division in some respects.
"I think the Premier League is different to the Championship and I think the Championship is harder in its own way," he said. "It's a lot of end-to-end football, it’s exciting and physical.
READ MORE: Sunderland show true grit at Millwall to earn a point and keep their play-off challenge on track
"It's another challenge for me and the last time I played at this level I was 16 so I'll see how I get on."
Leeds have allowed Gelhardt to join Sunderland to get regular starts, and he has come to a club where boss Tony Mowbray has already demonstrated that he is willing to put his faith in young players. Gelhardt said: "Obviously as a young player it's good to see the manager put trust in young players.
"The style of play and stuff it's exciting and is something I'd like to be a part of. And since I arrived. all the lads have been class - they've been welcoming ever since I joined."
Gelhardt was signed with the intention of supporting top scorer Ross Stewart and offering another attacking option, but those plans went out of the window when Stewart suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in last weekend FA Cup fourth round tie at Fulham. Now Gelhardt will find himself centre-stage between now and the end of the season.
Asked whether his role would change, he said: "I'm not completely sure. It's unfortunate that Ross got injured because I'd have liked playing with him and saw how he played, I'd have loved to play off him.
"That's football so if I have to try and do his job and score goals then, yeah."
Gelhardt made his first appearance in red and white against Millwall and, while the atmosphere in front of a full house at The Den can be intimidating, he insists the Black Cats went into the game knowing what they would face. Jake Cooper gave the Lions the lead on the hour, but sub Dennis Cirkin headed Sunderland level from a set-piece ten minutes from time.
Gelhardt said: "We knew it was going to be a scrappy game and that the fans were going to be loud and intimidating. I think it was all of that but we'd prepared for it so I don't think it was a shock.
"Obviously it's going to be tough going there. For my development I get to see how the Championship is.
"I'm sure it's not always as extreme as that, but it was a good challenge and I enjoyed it. It's a tough place to come, obviously Millwall away everyone knows it's tough, but I enjoyed the challenge making my Sunderland debut.
"On another day I think we get three points but that's football and we will look to get three points next game."
READ NEXT:
- Millwall boss Gary Rowett rages about two key decisions he felt cost victory against Sunderland
- Sunderland new boy Joe Gelhardt is relishing the challenge of filling Ross Stewart's shoes
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray on Dennis Cirkin's bravery and how it will cost him an FA Cup outing
- Sunderland's Dan Neil and Patrick Roberts stand out in draw at Millwall
- Sunderland's Dennis Cirkin salvages a point at Millwall in a brief comeback from injury
